Dispensing head mounting assembly



March 17, 1964 D. T. HNDMAN DISPENSING HEAD MOUNTING ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 13, 1962 INVENTOR.

DA /V/EL 7T H/NDMAN A T TOR/VE V5 United States Patent O 3,125,253 DISEENSING HEAD MOUNTING ASSEMBLY Daniel T. Hindman, Kenmore, N.Y., assigner to National- Precision Corporation, Buffalo, NX. Filed Feb. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 173,009 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-181) This invention relates generally to the electromechanical arts. More specifically, this invention is directed to a new and useful Vmounting and electric contact assembly for dispensing units.

While by no means limited thereto, my invention has been developed for use with devices for dispensing measured amounts of a liquid, and automatically recording each dispensing action. Such devices are used, for eX- ample, in the controlled dispensing of liquor. In one form, the dispensing unit has an actuating member which is engaged by a glass, and shifted upwardly, whereupon a pre-selected quantity of liquid is dispensed into the glass. Simultaneously, an electric circuit is completed, by grounding through the unit, to energize a recording device. In this way, the quantity of liquid dispensed is accurately measured and recorded, affording an absentee owner complete control over the dispensing operation when the bottle is locked in place in the apparatus. f However, the measuring and dispensing unit should be disengageable from its mounting bracket to facilitate cleaning, replacement, and maintenance. Where the electric circuit is completed through the dispensing unit, the requirement of detachability greatly complicates the problem of providing a unit which canot be tampered with by an unscrupulous operator desiring to disable the recording circuit. Also involved is the problem of avoiding inadvertent actuation of the recorder when removing and replacing the unit. i

The primary object of this invention is to provide a dispensing head mounting and electric contact assembly which is readily disassembled while being virtually foolproof and temperproof in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide the foregoing in an arrangement wherein the likelihood of accidentally completing the recorder control circuit during assembly and disassembly is virtualy eliminated. In one aspect thereof, the mounting assembly of this invention is characterized by the provision of a support bracket having an upright and a pair of opposite side wall members associated with the upright to dene therewith a generally U-shaped channel, a dispensing unit having a body adapted to slip-fit into the channel, the body and side wall members having coacting cam surfaces guiding the body downwardly between the wall members and inwardly toward the upright as the body is mounted in the bracket, a jack mounted between the side wall members at generally a right angle to the upright, and a plug carried by the body and extending into the jack when the body is mounted in the bracket, means for actuating the dispensing unit, and an electric circuit through the plug and jack associated with the dispensing unit actuating means.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing features of a dispensing unit mounting and contact assembly constructed in accordance with my invention will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of one, presently contemplated, illustrative embodiment thereof, taken together with the accompanying drawing illustrating the same wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout, and wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of a complete dispensing apparatus incorporating a dispensing head mounting and electric contact arrangement of my invention; and

3,125,253 Patented Mar. 17, 1964 ICC FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the mounting and electric contact portion thereof.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawing, there is shown a liquor-dispensing apparatus comprising an upright 1 having at its lower end a bracket 2 supporting a dispensing unit 3.

Dispensing unit 3 includes tapered inlet stopper 4 of rubber or other cushioning material which is received in the mouth 5 of a bottle 6. The base of bottle 6 is engaged in a cap '7 carried by a bracket 8 which is movable along upright l. Bracket 8 is releasably locked in position along upright 1, as by a key 9.

Dispensing unit 3 comprises a body 10 having a generally C-shaped portion mounting a chamber 11 adapted to receive liquid from bottle 6 through an inlet passage 12 which opens into the upper end of chamber 11. Liquid is dispensed from the lower end of chamber 11, through an outlet 13 under control of an internal valve 14 and an actuating member 15. Member 15 includes a sleeve guided on outlet 13 and an arm 16 connected to the reduced diameter lower end of a stem 17, and is urged to its normal, closed position shown in full lines in FIG. 2 by a spring 18. An air vent 19 opens into the top of chamber 11, under control of a valve 20 carried by a leaf spring 22 which urges valve 20 into a position closing vent 19. A spring 23 seats on the reduced upper end of stem 17, in spaced relation to leaf spring 22 when the parts are in their normal position of rest.

In operation, liquid from bottle 6 lls chamber 11. When it is desired to dispense the liquid from the charn` ber, element 15 is elevated to its broken line position in FIG. 2, as by pushing .upwardly on arm 16 with a glass. This firstl causes valve 14 to close inlet 12 then opens the passage (not shown) through outlet 13. It also shifts stem 17 upwardly, causing spring 23 to lift spring 22 and unseat valve 20, thereby venting chamber 11. Liquid then flows from chamber 11 through outlet 13 into the glass below. Upon releasing member 15, it returns to its position of rest, and chamber 11 is again lled, automatically, from bottle 6.

Support bracket 2 includes the lower end of upright 1, and a pair of side wall plate members 27 fastened to opposite sides thereof. Wall members 27 project from upright 1 to define a channel in which the dispensing unit body 1t) is received. The support bracket channel is open at its upper end, and wall members 27 are notched at their upper edges, as shown at 28, to receive lugs 29 projecting from the opposite sides of the dispensing unit body 10.

Lugs 29 are positioned at the upper, inner corners of the dispensing unit body 1l), and suspend the unit within the support bracket by engaging the bottom edges 30 of notches 28. These edges 30 incline downwardly and inwardly, and the adjacent edges of lugs 29 are correspondingly inclined, whereby as the dispensing unit body is slip-fitted downwardly between side wall members 27, lugs 29 and surfaces 30 coact to guide the unit downwardly and inwardly toward upright 1.

As thus far described, the apparatus is known and cornprises per se no part of my invention. However, I have added the guide stem 21, which extends from vent valve 20 into vent passage 19 to insure proper seating of the valve when its spring 22 is released.

This invention is directed to the disengageable electric circuit arrangement which, in the preferred form shown in FIG. 2, comprises a jack 25 carried by a block 26 of electrically insulating material which is mounted on the lower end portion of upright 1. When assembled in bracket 2, the inner face 31 of dispensing unit body 10 is parallel to upright 1, closely adjacent insulating block 26 carrying jack 25. A plug 32, mounted in an insulating block 33 positioned within a channel in face 31 of body 10, projects beyond face 31 into jack 25 when unit 3 is assembled in bracket 2.

Thus, as dispensing unit 3 is mounted in its support bracket 2, lugs 29 coact with notch edges 30 to guide plug 32 into jack 25, thereby completing an electrical connection between a lead 34 and the leaf spring 22 which is insulated from body 10. Lead 34 goes to whatever recording device (not shown) is being used, and the energizing circuit is completed through lead 34, jack 25, plug 32 and spring 22 when arm 16 is' elevated, causing spring 23 at the upper end of stern 18 to contact leaf spring 22 and ground the circuit. In other words, the electric energizing circuit is completed by grounding through the unit 3, and this is accomplished at the time member is actuated to dispense liquid from chamber 11.

It will be observed that when the parts are assembled, as shown in FIG. 2, plug 32 extends into jack 25 and positively precludes straight upward movement of the dispensing unit in the bracket. This makes for a more rigid unit. Also, the connection thus established between plug 32 and jack 25 cannot be tampered with and broken, as distinguished for example from prior art arrangements utilizing a brush type of contact wherein a thin piece of insulating material can be inserted between the contact elements to disable the recorder circuit.

When it is desired to remove dispensing unit 3 from its bracket 2, bottle 6 is first removed by unlocking bracket 8. The dispensing unit 3 then is slid upwardly and outwardly, away from upright l, with plug 32 sliding out of jack 25.

When it is desired to reassemble the device, the process is reversed, and the open notches 28 permit unit 3 to be tilted, relative to bracket 2, as required to engage and disengage plug 32 and jack 25.

While jack could be carried by dispensing body 10, with plug 32 projecting from upright 1, that would make it difficult to keep plug 32 from contacting the dispensing unit body 10 and grounding the circuit as the body is assembled on bracket 2. This would actuate the recording device, which then would no longer accurately record the number of dispensing actions. Indeed, the circuit might easily be completed several times during assembly. Therefore, I prefer that plug 32 extend from the dispensing unit, and be inserted in a jack 25 carried by insulating block 26 in support bracket 2, whereby the likelihood of such accidental grounding is virtually eliminated.

Accordingly, it is seen that my invention fully accomplishes its intended objects. While I `have disclosed and described in detail only one, presently preferred embodiment of my invention, that has been done by way of illustration only without thought of limitation. Those variations and modications which will naturally occur to those skilled in the art, upon an understanding of my invention, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully disclosed and completely described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a device of the class described, a dispensing unit, a normally upright support bracket for said dispensing unit, means foractuating said dispensing unit, said means including a part movable upwardly relative to said bracket and said unit, and an electric circuit associated with said actuating means, said electric circuit including a jack member and a plug member, one of said members being carried by said bracket and the other of said members being carried by said dispensing unit, said jack extending transversely of said bracket and said plug extending into said jack when said unit is mounted on said bracket, said unit being movable obliquely downwardly and inwardly relative to said bracket when mounting said unit on said bracket, and said unit and said bracket having coacting parts guiding said plug into said jack upon such movement of said unit relative to said bracket, said plug and jack precluding straight upward movement of said unit relative to said bracket.

2. In a device of the class described, a support bracket comprising an upright and a pair of opposite side wall members associated with said upright and defining therewith a channel, a dispensing unit body adapted for slip-tit mounting in said channel, said body and said wall members having coacting cam surfaces guiding said body downwardly between said wall members and inwardly toward said upright when mounting said body on said bracket, means for actuating said dispensing unit, and an electric circuit associated with said dispensing unit actuating means, said electric circuit including a jack carried by said support bracket between said wall members and extending at generally a right angle to said upright, and a plug carried by said body and extending into said jack when said body is mounted in said bracket, said coacting cam surfaces guiding said plug into said jack.

3. In a device of the class described, a support bracket comprising an upright and a pair of opposite side wall members associated with said upright and defining therewith a channel open at its upper end, a dispensing unit body adapted for slip-lit insertion in said channel, the

. upper ends of said wall members having alined notches therein, said notches opening upwardly and having downwardly and inwardly inclined bottom edge surfaces, a pair of lugs on said dispensing unit body, said lugs being received in said notches and coacting with said bottom edge surfaces thereof to guide said dispensing unit body downwardly and inwardly between said wall membersI and thereafter support said body in said bracket, means for actuating said dispensing unit, and an electric circuit associated with said dispensing unit actuating means, said electric circuit including a jack carried by said support bracket between said wall members and extending at generally a right angle to said upright, and a plug carried by said body and extending into said jack when said body is mounted on said bracket, said lugs and said bottom edge surfaces of said notches guiding said plug into said jack as said body is mounted on said bracket and said plug thereafter coacting with said jack to hold said body against straight upward movement relative to said bracket.

4. In a device of the class described, a dispensing unit, a normally upright support bracket for said dispensing unit, means suspending said dispensing unit in said bracket while enabling upward and outward movement of said unit relative to said bracket, means for actuating said dispensing unit, said actuating means being operable upon movement of a control part upwardly relative to said dispensing unit and said support bracket, and an electric circuit associated with said actuating means, said electric circuit including a jack carried by said bracket and extending transversely thereof, and a plug carried by said unit and extending into said jack when said unit is suspended on said bracket, said plug and said jack thereby precluding straight upward movement of said unit relative to said bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,640,968 Lehr June 2, 1953 2,987,693 Wamsley June 6, 1961 

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A DISPENSING UNIT, A NORMALLY UPRIGHT SUPPORT BRACKET FOR SAID DISPENSING UNIT, MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID DISPENSING UNIT, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A PART MOVABLE UPWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID BRACKET AND SAID UNIT, AND AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ACTUATING MEANS, SAID ELECTRIC CIRCUIT INCLUDING A JACK MEMBER AND A PLUG MEMBER, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS BEING CARRIED BY SAID BRACKET AND THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS BEING CARRIED BY SAID DISPENSING UNIT, SAID JACK EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BRACKET AND SAID PLUG EXTENDING INTO SAID JACK WHEN SAID UNIT IS MOUNTED ON SAID BRACKET, SAID UNIT BEING MOVABLE OBLIQUELY DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID BRACKET WHEN MOUNTING SAID UNIT ON SAID BRACKET, AND SAID UNIT AND SAID BRACKET HAVING COACTING PARTS GUIDING SAID PLUG INTO SAID JACK UPON SUCH MOVEMENT OF SAID UNIT RELATIVE TO SAID BRACKET, SAID PLUG AND JACK PRECLUDING STRAIGHT UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID UNIT RELATIVE TO SAID BRACKET. 